ARC 6 questions

[litetube]

I dont see anything on this light anymore. Is it being boycotted?

It states high is 100/120 on primary/RCR respectively. And this drains the battery in seconds? I am a bit confused. Is level seven actually a turbo type mode which is much higher than 100 lumens and level4 or 5 is the more reasonable 100?

Noone ever speaks of this light at all. does anyone still own/use/buy this light?

Is it really super tiny at 2.94 inches? that is shorter than most every cr123 1 cell light out there but it diesnt seem quite that small?

 

[tricker]

level 7 is like 150-180 depending on led and meter, from everything i've heard... arc is extremely expensive when compared to its competitors and I'm guessing was trying to sell on brand loyalty...but due to its bankruptcy I guess people are timid to invest in something that may not have support in the future......people that have them seem to enjoy them and they've recently went on sale......but if i needed another 1 cr123 the arc would definitely make the short list

 

[parnass]

Check out the Arc Flashlight forum section.

 

[orcinus]

level 7 is like 150-180 depending on led and meter, from everything i've heard...

More like 170-190. The production (P4) version has clocked in at 180 lumens out of the front, according to ViReN. The pre-production (K2) version should go higher (190-ish to 200-ish, perhaps). It sweeps the floor with a lot of lights marketed as 200+ lumen (P3D, for example).

The 120 lumen figure (140 for K2) stated on the web site is the guaranteed minimum output at Level 5 or 6, can't remember which.

Check out the Arc Flashlight forum section.

Also, make sure to check out ViReN's very extensive review:
http://www.cpfreviews.com/Arc6.php

 

[Dadof6]

The truth is, I love the ARC6. I have it set up on a McGizmo Titanium body and it is my most preferred EDC for size, and raw power when I need it. I own a lot of lights but the ARC6 is just one dang cool light. I'd get one expecially since they are now on sale through Christmas.

 

[AMRaider]

According to Arc's homepage, the minimum ratings are 100 Lumens on level 7 with a primary CR123 and 120 Lumens on level 7 with an RCR123*. This does not drain a fresh battery in a matter of seconds. IIRC, the K2 version has slightly better throw and output than the P4. The P4 has a little more spill, a cooler tint, and slightly longer runtime.

At 100 or 120 Lumens, the Arc6 will be as bright or brighter than many other manufacturer's lights which have higher listed outputs. While some manufacturers measure the output at the LED, Arc measures output (conservatively, I might add) "out the front" of the flashlight. Surefire is the only other company I can think of that measures Lumens "out the front" and their ratings are also conservative.

At under 3", it is a very compact light. If you have medium or large hands, I would go with the guarded version of the light.

*Arc's FAQ indicates 120 Lumens at level 6 with the P4 and RCR123.

 

[dtsoll]

I have the Arc6 and it is an awesome light. I would certainly buy another if I lost mine. I have the P4 version and It is almost I identical in brightness to my ra clicky on level 22 and the arc is at level 5 (by my eyes anyway). Meaning 100ish lumens at level 5 for the Arc. It is just a slick little light that wreaks of quality. It really is a great light!!! Doug

 

[orcinus]

According to Arc's homepage, the minimum ratings are 100 Lumens on level 7 with a primary CR123 and 120 Lumens on level 7 with an RCR123.

The minimum guaranteed figures are NOT for level 7. According to the Arc homepage (Arc6 FAQ):

• Level 1: <1 lumen
• Level 2: 7 lumen
• Level 3: 35 lumen
• Level 4: 70 lumen
• Level 5: 100 lumen
• Level 6: at least 120 lumen
• Level 7: >120 lumen

Everything up to and including level 5 is calibrated (i.e. will output exactly or pretty damn near the stated amount of lumens). Levels 6 and 7 aren't calibrated and level 7 is, AFAIK, partially regulated. Figures for those levels are the barest minimums Peter was comfortable with. In reality, the output is around 150-160 @ level 6 and 170-180 @ level 7, for the P4 version, with a fresh rechargeable battery that can supply a high enough current.

In other words, it's not at all like SureFire's "underestimated" lumens. The first 5 levels are calibrated to output as many lumens as stated in the FAQ. The highest 2 are "all-bets-off-give-me-all-you-got" levels and are rated only by their minimum, absolute worst case scenario output level.

Just BTW, according to other people's observations, level 5 (100 lumens) seems to match other calibrated lights that have been rated @ 100 lumens (think Ra).
My pre-production, K2 Arc6 seems to match lights commonly rated at 100-130 lumens out of the front at level 4 and easily beats lights rated at 180-220 lumens out of the front at level 7. It's comparable to JETBeam JETIII-PRO in overall output and is brighter than, say, a P3D Q5.

 

[litetube]

Ok Thanx that is what I thought. I did go thru all the threads but it is often very difficult to glean accurate true information from dozens of pages of comments .Level 7 is some kind of insane turbo. I really like the looks of this light and am tempted by the sale price but it also scares me that there is ZERO talk of it anymore and it almost seems like more of a conversation piece than a real EDC light .I wonder if those new AW IMR cells would really help this light on levels 6 and levels7. seems like they could handle the ARC^ much better at those levels. Anyone have both the ARC6 and these new cells ?

 

[AMRaider]

The minimum guaranteed figures are NOT for level 7. According to the Arc homepage (Arc6 FAQ):

• Level 1: <1 lumen
• Level 2: 7 lumen
• Level 3: 35 lumen
• Level 4: 70 lumen
• Level 5: 100 lumen
• Level 6: at least 120 lumen
• Level 7: >120 lumen

Everything up to and including level 5 is calibrated (i.e. will output exactly or pretty damn near the stated amount of lumens). Levels 6 and 7 aren't calibrated and level 7 is, AFAIK, partially regulated. Figures for those levels are the barest minimums Peter was comfortable with. In reality, the output is around 150-160 @ level 6 and 170-180 @ level 7, for the P4 version, with a fresh rechargeable battery that can supply a high enough current.

In other words, it's not at all like SureFire's "underestimated" lumens. The first 5 levels are calibrated to output as many lumens as stated in the FAQ. The highest 2 are "all-bets-off-give-me-all-you-got" levels and are rated only by their minimum, absolute worst case scenario output level.

Just BTW, according to other people's observations, level 5 (100 lumens) seems to match other calibrated lights that have been rated @ 100 lumens (think Ra).
My pre-production, K2 Arc6 seems to match lights commonly rated at 100-130 lumens out of the front at level 4 and easily beats lights rated at 180-220 lumens out of the front at level 7. It's comparable to JETBeam JETIII-PRO in overall output and is brighter than, say, a P3D Q5.

Ahh.. So the FAQ indicates 120 Lumens at level 6 with the P4. It sounds like the Arc6 really shines (horrible pun, I know :naughty with RCR123s.

 

[Elmie]

I have the K2 Arc6 and at level 5 it is just as bright as my Lunasol 27 that is modded to run at 1A. Level 7 is just crazy bright.

It's a great light, not talked about often due to the bad PR perhaps...

 

[litetube]

Thanx Elmie. This is what I was curious about. I wonder what market this light is targeting . I know some dont like the thermal stepdown but I think you have to have it at these levels? I wish someone could tell me if the IMRs are good in this light. I would be tempted to use levels 6 and 7 all the time and recharging constantly!!

 

[Elmie]

I'm using AW RCR123 protected cells and I charge once a week, but my light is set to level 3, level 5 and level 1. Even at level 3 it's too bright to use close-up, it's blinding.

 

[tpchan]

.... I wish someone could tell me if the IMRs are good in this light. I would be tempted to use levels 6 and 7 all the time and recharging constantly!!

Yes, IMR's work the best in the Arc6. I couldn't find a rechargeable cell that would work reliably in my Arc6 K2 at Level 7 until the AW IMR's arrived. Now I can run Level 7 until thermal stepdown occurs from the light, not the protection circuit of the battery kicking in first!

 

[Haz]

One thing about the Arc-6 is that it is not very efficient. It start off very bright, but it does not last very long.

For the first 3 minutes, the Arc-6 at level 5 has about 40% more output than the Ra-Twisty 100, which is fantastic, but for the next 100 minutes, it runs about 50% of the output of Ra-Twisty 100.

The Arc-6 level 5 seems like more of a burst.

For most of the runtime duration the Arc-6 has 50% of the output of the Ra-Twisty. I guess most will expect significantly more runtime on the Arc-6, given the lower output. But as you can see, the Ra-Twisty and Arc-6 drop off in output (105 minute mark) in approximately the same time.

I think if the runtime and output was similar to the Ra-Twisty, this light will be much more popular. The use of the popular McGizmo Piston Drive and small form factor was definately the right choice, but the efficiently of the light needs to be refined more.

Please note that the runtime graph of the Arc6 is based on the pre-production K2 led.

Runtime graph courtesy of this_is_nascar

 

[carrot]

I plan on picking up one of these at some point. I have three of Don's PD's and I figure the Arc PD (whoops, I mean Arc6) would play nicely with my PD's and Lunasol. Once I set the levels I will forget they even exist. Complicated UI's just really aren't my thing.

 

[ironmace]

Hi,

i´m wondering about the runtimes,too
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showpost.php?p=2755574&postcount=3


Mace

 

[litetube]

Based on that chart it seems there is no level on the ARC6 that is equivalent to the RA in output or runtime. The levels are either L3 lower in output or L4/L5 etc which are higher in output but sustained for only minutes and then drop off below the RA. The ARC 6 cant even handle the L4 which is roughly equal to the RA hihg for more than a few minutes and it drops way off. The RA maintains it almost flatline. Doesnt seem all that good to me, If it cant even maintain 100 lumens? I understand with the ARC they are trying to acheive a broad spectrum of output capabilities but something seems to be suffering in the process.

 

[Elmie]

I believe it's been said that it's due to thermal management that the arc6 drops in output on L4 after a few minutes. The RA has more mass...a lot more mass then the arc6 does and is handling the heat better. Having such a small package does have it's downsides no doubt and thermal management is one of them. However, when the light is hand held I have run my arc6 on L7 on a freshly charged RCR123 and it ran for almost 5 mins before it stepped down due to heat.
Fact is, no one has really done a "formal" test with this light and having it sit on a bench un-cooled is just not a great test to begin with.

If you really like the look of the light, the size of it and it's UI. I say give it a chance and order one before the sale ends. Worse that can happen is that you return it! There is no doubt that for a production light, this is by far one of the brightest single CR123 lights out there.

 

[carrot]

If it is stepping down due to thermal management then the Arc6 should be tested submerged in room temperature water for runtime. Has no one done this yet?